Author: bang1

Loose Women star Ruth Langsford was forced to take time off over Christmas after her 94-year-old mum Joan suffered a painful fall and fractured her pelvis

During the latest episode of Loose Women, Coleen Nolan interrupted the programme just minutes into it, expressing concern for her colleague and mate, Ruth Langsford.

As the ITV show got underway on Monday (January 6), with Ruth reading the day’s line-up alongside panellists Kelly Brook and Brenda Edwards, Coleen unexpectedly cut in: “Just before we carry on with all of that. I know your mum had a fall before Christmas, how is she doing?”

Ruth, aged 64, then opened up about the distressing incident, sharing that her 94 year old mum Joan had experienced a nasty fall, yet thankfully, she was “doing alright”.

Coleen Nolan was concerned about Ruth Langsford’s mum ( 
Image:
ITV)
Eager to update everyone, the television personality described her mother as incredibly resilient: “She is a warrier my mum, she really is. She is like titanium and it’s just amazing but I’ve been worried about her.”

Delving into the details, Ruth added that Joan suffered a fracture: “She had a fall in the middle of December and fractured her pelvis which is really painful. I said at the time ‘aw thank goodness she hasn’t broken anything’ and the doctor said a fracture is worse because it takes a lot longer to heal,” reports the Liverpool Echo.

Highlighting her mother’s strength, Ruth concluded with admiration: “You know how stoic my mum is. She had a hip replacement last year and literally had paracetamol and she was up in three days but she has been in so much pain and it has been horrible.”

Ruth Langsford with her mother, Joan ( 
Image:
ruthlangsford/Instagram)
Ruth shared an emotional update with Loose Women viewers, revealing her mother’s recent hospital ordeal: “She’s been in hospital and we only got her out on Friday but she is out of hospital and we’ve got her home now so happy again. It’s been a tough one and I know so many people, when you have an elderly parent who needs care, it’s different isn’t it.”

The TV presenter continued, expressing her dedication despite the challenges: “I love my mum so I don’t resent it and it could have been a lot worse but she has just got to do a mixture of resting and also movement, it’s a combination of the two but she is amazing and she is doing well so thank you.”

Ruth has been open about her mother Joan’s health struggles, noting that this fall was not the first holiday mishap, as Joan had previously broken her hip at Christmas in 2023.

Joan’s health concerns have been ongoing, with Ruth mentioning that her mother is currently receiving at-home care for dementia.

Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford announced the end of their 14 year marriage in May, and a relationship expert has now warned the pair over the speed of their divorce

Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford’s rush to finalise their divorce could pile on “additional stress”, a relationship guru has cautioned. The pair, who share a 22 year old son, left fans gobsmacked in May when they revealed their split after 14 years of marriage.

Eamonn, 65, has since found love with relationship counsellor Katie Alexander, 42, while Ruth, also 65, is said to be flying solo. A source claimed to The Sun that Eamonn is particularly eager “for a fresh start” come 2025, prompting Chloé Moreau from ExpertsEnRencontres to weigh in on the potential pitfalls of speeding through a divorce.

“Fast-tracking a divorce can certainly bring closure and allow individuals to move on with their lives,” she noted. She suggested that for Eamonn, the push might be fuelled by his eagerness to turn the page with his new flame, whereas for Ruth, it could mean a chance to seek stability and carve out her own future.

Yet, Chloé flagged up that the swift pace “should not come at the expense of addressing the emotional and practical implications for both parties”.

Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford are reportedly keen to finalise their divorce ( 
Image:
GETTY)

She stressed that divorce isn’t just about legalities but also an emotional journey, and hurrying might leave feelings unresolved or ramp up stress levels. Moreover, she advised that the ex-duo should aim for an equitable deal that caters to both their needs in the divorce settlement, reports Belfast Live.

Chloé offered some sage advice on navigating the split, suggesting that “if handled thoughtfully, a fast resolution could empower both Eamonn and Ruth to embrace their new beginnings while minimising conflict and uncertainty”.

Meanwhile, Ruth recently opened up about her separation from Eamonn for the first time since the announcement. On Loose Women, she discussed the importance of divorced parents acting selflessly at family events, saying: “I think it’s very selfish when you hear parents say, ‘Well if they are divorced then, I’m not coming to your wedding if he’s coming’ or ‘If she is there’ and I just think it’s so selfish isn’t it, because it is their day.”

Mariella Frostrup chimed in with: “That’s a whole other subject isn’t it? How to divorce well.”

To which Ruth wittily replied: “Oh, tell me about it,” eliciting laughter from everyone in the studio.

Eamonn has also publicly acknowledged the split, expressing gratitude to his supporters on his GB News show shortly after the news broke.

Loose Women star Coleen Nolan has candidly opened up about a topic that too many women shy away from due to its sensitive nature – bladder leakage – and why she makes sure to chat about the topic with her kids

Coleen Nolan isn’t one to shy away from taboo topics and now the Loose Women panellist is talking about another issue not often talked about – bladder leakage

The television presenter said she often talks about it with her fellow hosts but it’s not usually things like bladder control are discussed on-air.

“We have talked about it among ourselves,” says Coleen, 59. “We’ll say, ‘Oh my God, I wet myself at that yesterday’ or ‘I nearly wet myself today laughing at that topic’ After the show when we are back in our dressing rooms, we talk about it, doing our debrief. I love the fact that you don’t have to feel alone with it.”

Since she had her first child at the age of 23, Colleen has experienced leakage which has become worse over the years, particularly after sneezing, laughing, or coughing.

“My bladder issues were from having my first child really,” she adds. “When you are younger, and they are going on at you about doing your pelvic floor exercises, you say ‘yeah, whatever’. I’d do them, but not regularly, and then three children later you think ‘Maybe I should have done them when I was told’.”

She is now an ambassador for Always Discreet, who make products for people with sensitive bladders, and says she has come to understand how widespread it is.

Muscles

The Loose Women star said leakages are more common than people think and do not just affect older people.

“One in three women experience bladder leaks,” says Coleen. “And it’s 100 per cent not associated with old age.

Coleen highly recommends making pelvic floor exercises part of your regular routine ( 
Image:
Getty Images)
“I’ve met women from their early 20s to my age and above who have all experienced it at some time. Bladder leaks are very common. It’s something that we need to stop being embarrassed about. They just happen.

“It’s not an everyday occurrence with me, it’s if you sneeze, cough, or laugh. Laughing is a big one. I go out with my friends and we all say ‘Don’t make me laugh or I’ll wee’.”

Bladder leakage can be caused by weakened muscles, nerve damage, certain medications, and certain foods and drinks.

And it can be debilitating for some people – Always Discreet research showed that 87 per cent of UK women said bladder leaks disrupted their daily activities, 50 per cent said it was a source of embarrassment and anxiety, and 48 per cent said it was a taboo subject. Coleen wants to change that.

She discusses bladder leakage with her sisters and is open in front of her children, Shane, 36, and Jake, 32 from her marriage to EastEnders ‘ star Shane Richie, and daughter Ciara, 23, from her marriage to guitarist Ray Fensome.

“The lovely thing I’ve got with my sons and my daughter is we talk about everything. We’ve talked about periods in front of the boys. I wish I had had more of that as a child.

“My mum didn’t talk about anything. She had eight children and I didn’t even know about periods. I found out about them because of my older sisters. She was of that era when private stuff stayed private.”

In the survey, 94 per cent of women said they did not do pelvic floor exercises as regularly as they should. Research shows that doing three lots of strengthening exercises every day can help to reduce or even prevent you having bladder leaks.

Most women don’t exercise their pelvic floor enough ( 
Image:
Getty Images)
Coleen says she has been incorporating her pelvic floor exercises into her daily routine. “You don’t have to give up any time of your day to do them. I can do them while I’m mucking the horses out, feeding the animals, or making a cup of tea. And no one knows you are doing them. It’s just getting into the habit.

“It’s retraining a muscle. As long as you are tensing your muscles they are going to build up. It’s like starting at a gym, all of a sudden, you are going to see the difference it makes.”

It’s not the only thing that is making a difference in her life. “In lockdown, me and my daughter went plant-based and that has made a massive difference,” says Coleen. “I was on painkillers and she had a lot of women’s issues that weren’t going away. We watched a couple of documentaries and decided to give it a try.

“Within two weeks I was off painkillers and all her issues stopped. It was incredible how fast it helped just by cutting out meat and dairy.”

In June last year, Coleen moved to a smallholding in Staffordshire where she has a menagerie of animals including horses, ducks, chickens, cats, dogs, and pygmy goats. Her daughter Ciara lives on-site in an annexe.

“Ciara is vegan and I’m 100 per cent vegetarian and 80 per cent vegan, only because of the amount of travelling I do. It was for health reasons initially as I loved meat and dairy but then I thought ‘I can’t have all these animals running around and then sit down and eat a chicken’.

Coleen lives with her daughter Ciara in Staffordshire ( 
Image:
coleen_nolan/Instagram)“The thing with animals is even if you wake up and think, ‘I’m really down today’, you can’t have a duvet day because they are all looking at you demanding ‘feed me, walk me, groom me!’.

“It forces you out of that situation and of course, fresh air and exercise are amazing for your mental health.”

Skincare

Another issue Coleen wants to tackle this year is her skin. “I’ve got a couple of pre-melanoma skin cancers that the doctors said will be an issue later in life, but I don’t want to wait as an auntie passed away because of skin cancer a couple of years ago.

“I have two little marks – one on my nose and one on my cheek. The doctors said they are pre-melanomas from [sun exposure in] my childhood. It’s really common in people my age.

“Back in the 1960s and 1970s, no one bothered with suncream. I used to be out all day playing. I burned and I’ve got really pale, freckly Irish skin. I never sit in the sun now, I’m always under a shade.”

It’s clear, despite a hectic life travelling between Staffordshire and London for work, looking after herself is a priority for Coleen.

“I’m 60 this year,” she says. “I’m going to try and carry on being as healthy as I can.”

Always Discreet has partnered with Coleen Nolan on its “Squeeze the Day” campaign which aims to encourage all women to make bladder leak prevention and management part of their daily routine.

Just days before The Vivienne passed away at the age of 32, the Ru Paul’s Drag Race UK star shared a post on Instagram, urging fans to donate to LGBTQ+ and HIV charity SAHIR

The Vivienne shared a final social media post just days before passing away at the age of 32.

The Ru Paul’s Drag Race UK star, whose real name was James Lee Williams, passed away this weekend, friend and publicist Simon Jones confirmed on social media this evening. In a statement, they said: “It is with immense sadness that we let you know our beloved James Lee Williams – The Vivienne, has passed this weekend.

“James was an incredibly loved, warm- hearted and amazing person. Their family are heartbroken at the loss of their son, brother and uncle. They are so proud of the wonderful things James achieved in their life and career. We will not be releasing any further details. We please ask that James’s family are given the time and privacy they now need to process and grieve.”

Tributes have poured in for the late icon
Just three days ago, The Vivienne shared a post on Instagram urging fans to donate to SAHIR, Liverpool’s largest and oldest LGBTQ+ and HIV charity. The drag performer wrote: “Join me in giving back this year, everything I do charitable wise is usually for @sahirhouse house, Liverpools oldest LGBT+ charity!!! The work they do is incredible, thank you. £1 a month you won’t miss it.”

Woman receives ‘creepy’ messages from men after trying to sell her ring

Following the announcement of the star’s death, Michelle Visage commented: “I don’t have the words. Utterly heartbroken.” Brian Dowling commented: “Simon this is absolutely heartbreaking.” Emmerdale star Lisa Riley penned: “Broken,” alongside a string of crying emojis. Presenter Harriet Rose added: “Oh Simon I’m so sorry for your loss. That is absolutely heartbreaking.” Radio presenter James Barr said: “Simon I’m so so sorry. I’m heartbroken. James was such a beautiful person.”

Pussycat Dolls singer Ashley Roberts added: “Omg! I can’t believe this. This is heartbreaking news,” alongside a broken heart emoji. Meanwhile, Union J singer Jaymi Hensley shared a snap with The Vivienne writing: “I actually can’t believe this! When we took this photo little did we know there would only be three of us left. my darling @ollymarmon please welcome our beautiful James @thevivienne_ into heaven! Look after each other , this is too much for my heart to handle! The scales of better people being up there then here has now well and truly changed.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by THE VIVIENNE (@thevivienne_)

In a separate post on Instagram, Michelle Visage shared snaps of herself and The Vivienne together. Writing alongside the upload, she said: “Heartbreaking. I don’t know how to say how I feel. My darling @thevivienne_ we go back to when I started coming over here to the UK. You were always there, always laughing, always giving, always on point.

“Your laughter, your wit, your talent, your drag. I loved all of it but I loved your friendship most of all. You were a beacon to so many. Seeing you make your West End debut was amazing for me to witness your dream come true right in front of my eyes, I’m the lucky one to have known you and to have laughed together with you so many times. I love you my darling. You will be so missed my lovely. May your light shine fiercely, forever. RIP MY ANGEL fly high.”

Simon later wrote in a follow-up post: “These are words I never ever wanted to write. Viv was a close friend, a client and someone I loved very much. From the moment I met them in 2019 I knew we could create magic together and I became their manager.

“Their talent was immense and the light they brought to every room was astonishing. No one has ever made me laugh in my life as much as Viv did. Their comic genius and quick wit was like no other.

“I’m so proud and lucky that Viv was such a big part of my life every day for the last 5 years. It’s tragic that their career was only just beginning. In musical theatre Viv had found a space and career they loved, excelled and thrived in. I am heartbroken and devastated at this news. RIP my wonderful friend. You left us way too soon.”

Dan Edgar has switched The Only Way is Essex for Dancing on Ice, and admitted that the gruelling reality show wasn’t without its falls and pains

The Only Way is Essex star Dan Edgar, 34, has opened up about how training is going ahead of his Dancing on Ice debut.

The 17th series of the ITV show is set to premiere on Sunday, January 12, and the competing stars have spent Christmas perfecting their skills. Dan admitted that despite enjoying the process so far, it wasn’t all smooth sailing.

“I am really enjoying it. It is tough. I am using muscles in my legs I have never used before in my life,” he told The Sun, adding: “My legs are feeling it most days. I have fallen over a couple of times. But it is mad how quickly – if you do something for two hours a day, there’s nothing in life where you really stick at it.”

Dan also shared how ice skating was a “really good workout,” and that he was excited to get the ball rolling on the final touches of his first performance. He revealed: “The whole experience… I am really grateful to have the opportunity to do it. We started our routine and I have got a wardrobe fitting soon… I am sure there will be some mad outfits.”

Dan shared that training was ‘tough,’ but that despite the falls he was enjoying the intense process ( 
Image:
danedgar/Instagram)

The star is partnered by Vanessa James Amoros, after telling producers he couldn’t partner with another pro skater ( 
Image:
Instagram)

This year will be slightly different for Dancing on Ice contestants, with the introduction of a 24-hour hotline for the stars of the show. The new safeguarding measure came following BBC ’s crisis with Strictly Come Dancing, after bullying claims between Giovanni Pernice and actress Amanda Abbington. A larger scale investigation was also launched and resulted in pro Graziano Di Prima being sacked for kicking TV personality Zara McDermott.

Dan and the other contestants will also be assigned a producer to ensure that their “wellbeing” is kept in check, according to reports. The TOWIE star’s main point of call will be his partner, pro skater Vanessa James Amoros. In photos from rehearsals, Dan was shown practicing his lifts with Vanessa on solid ground, before successfully taking the moves onto the ice.

Prior to joining the show, Dan reportedly made it clear that there was another Vanessa he didn’t want to partner with – Vanessa Bauer – out of loyalty to his friend and TOWIE co-star Joey Essex. Joey had a fling with Vanessa during his time on the 2023 series of the show, and Dan was keen not to create any drama.

“Dan didn’t want anything to distract him from the competition and he didn’t want to have to worry about what Joey was thinking,” a source claimed. “Why create any problems when it’s easily avoided by asking for a different dancer? Insiders say it was discussed as part of his discussions about joining the show and didn’t cause any problems.”

They added to the Sun that Dan wanted to keep things “really professional” and despite Joey and Vanessa not ending things badly, he found it the “easiest solution.” Alongside opening up about Dancing on Ice, Dan also opened up about the return of James Argent – better known as Arg – to TOWIE. He gushed to The Sun: “Yeah, the first time in six years.” Dan shared how special it was to reunite for the Christmas special, and added: “He is as original Towie as you can get. Series one, episode one and first ever scene was Arg and Mark. For Towie it is a really big thing… He has met someone and he is doing really well.”

Ronnie Vint was spotted en route to South Africa in time for Love Island All Stars, as a source claimed he’s ready to ‘play the field’ for his second time in the villa

Love Island star Ronnie Vint, 28, is set to head back into the villa just months after his search for love in 2024.

Ronnie’s departure comes just days before the previous Islanders are set to go into isolation ahead of the All Stars launch next week. He’s expected to be joined by the likes of Luca Bish, Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu, Paige Thorne, Olivia Hawkins and Curtis Pritchard – who famously told ex-girlfriend Amy Hart he hoped to be the person to cheer Islanders up in the morning.

The footballer was spotted by a fellow passenger on board a flight to South Africa, in an image obtained by The Sun. Ronnie looked lowkey in a hoodie and a backwards cap, and kept his head down as he listened to music through his AirPods. The flight is said to have been taking him to Love Island All Stars, where past contestants have a second chance at pairing up.

Ronnie will be joining stars including Ekin-Su, Curtis Pritchard, and Luca Bish in the All Stars edition of Love Island

The footballer and his ex, Harriet, met on Love Island but broke up shortly after, with Ronnie slamming rumours he cheated ( 
Image:
Jonathan Hordle/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
Alongside the image, a source claimed that while Ronnie wasn’t able to find his forever love in the villa last summer, he’s trying again. “Ronnie was a breakout star of Love Island last summer and while his hopes of finding love may not have worked out, he fancies a second shot in the villa,” they said.

The source added that he was willing to make a splash for his second Love Island innings, explaining: “He also isn’t afraid to ruffle feathers, play the field and he’ll also have the support of his pals Olivia Attwood and Bradley Dack behind him. If his ex Harriett Blackmore is also in the villa, however, things could get very awkward very quickly.”

The source suggested that Ronnie wouldn’t be too happy to see his ex in the villa after their sudden breakup. Ronnie and Harriet met on Love Island, but didn’t last long on the outside amid accusations of infidelity.

Addressing the issue, Ronnie stated: “I’ve been doing [public appearances], and obviously I’m going to take photos with girls and whatever, but there is nothing else, and she knows that, and obviously that’s the life we live now,” he told OK! back in September.

The star also opened up about how easy it was for innocent things to be blown out of proportion, describing: “If someone is close friends with me, and I’m talking to her, someone is going to try to take a photo, and that’s what it can look like. She obviously knows that deal, and what happened, because I went back that night and I FaceTimed her in bed, so she knew straight away that nothing happened, but then the story came out.”

The Vivienne appeared on screens and was on good form just days before it was announced that the RuPaul’s Drag Race legend had tragically died aged 32

Drag Race legend The Vivienne appeared on screens just days before their death.

It was announced on Sunday night that the star TV icon, whose real name was James Lee Williams had tragically died aged just 32. A spokesperson for The Vivienne confirmed the heartbreaking news on social media and stated that The Vivienne’s family were taking time to process the news.

But just days before the news emerged, The Vivienne appeared on the celebrity edition of BBC’s Blankety Blank alongside the likes of Oti Mabuse, Jonathan Ross, Joel Dommett and TV and singing queen, Jane McDonald. During a chat with host Bradley Walsh, they left the studio audience in fits of laughter as they spoke about their Christmas experience.

In the pre-recorded episode, The Vivienne joked: “Christmas is too long. You get up, you start drinking at 8am, well I do. I want to be bladdered by the time I’m cooking, if it goes wrong, you can say ‘Sorry, I’m bladdered,” as Jane struggled to contain her laughter over the witty joke.

The Vivienne appeared on screens just days before their death

The North Wales born entertainer, who moved to Liverpool aged 16 was no stranger when it came to entertaining viewers, whether it be with her Donald Trump or Margaret Thatcher impression, or appearing on stage as the Wicked Witch of the Wrst in the theatre production of The Wizard of Oz.

Confirming the news, Simon Jones, a close friend of The Vivienne and also their PR took to social media. In a statement, Simon said: “It is with immense sadness that we let you know our beloved James Lee Williams – The Vivienne, has passed this weekend.

“James was an incredibly loved, warm- hearted and amazing person. Their family are heartbroken at the loss of their son, brother and uncle. They are so proud of the wonderful things James achieved in their life and career. We will not be releasing any further details. We please ask that James’s family are given the time and privacy they now need to process and grieve.”

Elsewhere, Michelle Visage shared snaps of herself and The Vivienne together. Writing alongside the upload, she said: “Heartbreaking. I don’t know how to say how I feel. My darling @thevivienne_ we go back to when I started coming over here to the UK. You were always there, always laughing, always giving, always on point.

“Your laughter, your wit, your talent, your drag. I loved all of it but I loved your friendship most of all. You were a beacon to so many. Seeing you make your West End debut was amazing for me to witness your dream come true right in front of my eyes, I’m the lucky one to have known you and to have laughed together with you so many times. I love you my darling. You will be so missed my lovely. May your light shine fiercely, forever. RIP MY ANGEL fly high.”

Christine McGuinness has said she “didn’t realise” how sad and lonely she was until she split from her ex-husband Paddy McGuinness after 11 years of marriage

Christine McGuinness has opened up about a poignant realisation following her split from former husband Paddy. The pair went their separate ways in 2022, after 11 years of marriage which began with a lavish Cheshire wedding.

Despite their separation, Christine and Paddy still share the family home, a decision they’ve made to ensure stability for their three children – twins Penelope and Leo, 11, and Felicity, eight – who are all on the autism spectrum. Christine herself was diagnosed with autism while working on the documentary ‘Our Family and Autism’ in 2021, which delved into the lives of families with autistic children.

During her time with the ex-‘Take Me Out’ presenter, Christine admits to living almost like a recluse. In her memoir ‘A Beautiful Nightmare’, she reveals that she didn’t even have a hen party because she “didn’t have any friends”.

Post-separation, she confessed to The Times that life had always been intertwined with Paddy’s presence, but she has since recognised that her previous lifestyle may have caused her to miss out on new experiences. She shared with the newspaper: “Those years that I missed out on friendships, I thought I was fine. I didn’t realise how sad and lonely I was. It’s only recently, as I’ve been doing more, I’m like, ‘Wow, there’s a whole life to live out there that I didn’t know existed’ because I very much stayed at home.”

( 
Image:
Dave Benett/Getty Images)

Christine has confessed that the unknown is “really scary” to her, even admitting that it’s “scary not knowing what life’s going to bring,” which she believes is a common feeling among autistic women. She’s one of the celebs taking part in Celebrity Hunted, where they’ll be on the run for 14 days trying to outsmart security experts, all in aid of Stand Up to Cancer, reports the Liverpool Echo.

The reality star recently opened up on the unique Christmas plans she shared with her ex-husband despite the divorce.

“The last thing we want to do is upset our children over Christmas, so we’ll make sure we’re all together,” she told Woman’s Own. “It will be a quiet one. We always try to keep it quiet, because the children can get quite overwhelmed with the changes. So we try to keep it like a normal day but with presents.”

( 
Image:
PA)“If someone didn’t know our situation and came to our house and they spent the day with us, they would not have a clue [we were not together],” Paddy told the Mirror in April. “We get on well, we live together and co-parent. We get the lawyers back and forth but that’s separate – that’s a different thing.”

The ex-Real Housewives of Cheshire star teams up with crooner Duncan James, while Strictly’s Kai Widdrington joins forces with Giovanni Pernice, while Loose Women star Denise Welch teams up with husband Lincoln Townley.

star Denise Welch will be on the lam with hubby Lincoln Townley. It kicks off tonight (Sunday, January 5) at 9pm.

Singer and television presenter Coleen Nolan has opened up about splitting from her partner Michael Jones, who she had dated for three years and shared the sad reason why they parted ways

Coleen Nolan has split with her partner of three years – as she embraces single life on her new farm.

The Loose Women favourite recently parted ways with Michael Jones, citing her busy lifestyle as the reason as she juggles work with settling into her new home. Mum-of-three Coleen, 59, says breaking up was “sad” – but insists it ended on good terms. “We’ve decided that we would rather just stay friends, take it as a friendship,” says Coleen, who started dating the supermarket logistics worker in 2021.

“It’s nothing to do with anyone else, it’s nobody’s fault. But I’m really busy and when I’m not really busy with work I’m busy on the farm and I feel personally that I can’t give time to everything. We still get along great and hopefully we can continue to be friends, who knows?”

It wouldn’t be the first time Coleen says pals with an ex – she counts her two former husbands, actor Shane Richie and musician Ray Fensome, among her best friends. “I think that comes from age and experience,” she tells our sister title OK! magazine. “With it being my 60th next year I think, ‘I haven’t got time, life’s too short.’ I mean, I hope I have lots of time but I’m not 20 any more, I don’t want to wait for two years and see what happens.

Coleen has just bought a gorgeous farmhouse ( 
Image:
OK! Magazine / David Cummings) 

Coleen and her daughter inside her stunning home ( 
Image:
OK! Magazine /David Cummings)

“I’m not going to say it wasn’t sad, because of course it was. But I really hope that once that sadness goes away we can continue to be friends. I don’t regret any of it, it was fabulous. Michael came along at just the right time for me and I think over the last three-and-a-half years we’ve helped each other grow.

“I always choose to focus on the times that were great, not the sad ending. The last two years of both my marriages were probably horrendous, but equally, the 10 years before were fantastic, so I’d rather focus on that.” Another focus of Coleen’s is her new six-acre house in Staffordshire and realising “her dream” of owning a real farm, which she shares with daughter Ciara and her fiancé Max.

Coleen outside her stunning farmhouse ( 
Image:
OK! Magazine / David Cummings)
She even wants to turn her life on the farm into a reality show. “Even when I was little and I was with my sisters, Dad would say to me, ‘You just need to be on a farm, you need to be with animals.’ I can still hear him saying it,” says Coleen, who was a member of the pop group The Nolans with her sisters.

Her life on the farm spends three to four hours a day mucking out and feeding the animals – and she says there’s huge freedom in that. “It’s just a wonderful feeling, it really is my happy place,” she beams. “The best thing about it is, the animals don’t care whether I’ve got make-up on, or what I’m wearing. As long as I’m giving them food, letting them out or taking them for a walk, they don’t care about anything else.

Coleen is throwing herself into family life with daughter Ciara living very close to her farm house ( 
Image:
OK! Magazine / David Cummings)

“Because I’m in an industry that is fabulous, but also means you’re judged by everything you do, being on the farm where nothing matters and no one is judging me is a wonderful feeling.” With three horses, five dogs, six cats, five ducks, two cockerels, four hens and five pygmy goats – life is busy. Ciara, 23, lives in what used to be a separate Airbnb home on the plot with Max.

“If I had to have neighbours, they’d be the ones I’d want,” she says. “Although I think they think I’m the local Tesco Express because Ciara will come up and leave with a Tesco bag of whatever she’s found in my fridge. But then she’s like my local restaurant because I’ll go up there for my dinner and then come home again. So, I can’t really complain when she comes and steals the ingredients.” Ciara – whose dad is Ray – is also loving their new dynamic.

“I’m absolutely loving living here,” she says. “It went from a house to a home within a couple of days. We’re actually living my dream life, too, and I’m so grateful. I couldn’t be more proud of her. I look out my window in the morning and can see the horses and it’s the best feeling.” Coleen has two older children, Jake and Shane, who she shares with her first husband, EastEnders actor Shane.

The singer and actress is preparing for her 60th birthday ( 
Image:
OK! Magazine /David Cummings)

Ciara often visits her mums home and leaves with a bag full of shopping from the fridge ( 
Image:
OK! Magazine / David Cummings)
As well as turning 60 in March, next year officially marks 25 years of Coleen’s time on Loose Women, having joined the show in its very first year on air. Looking back over her time on the ITV panel show, Coleen said: “My whole life has changed since then, I’ve lived my life on Loose Women and equally I’ve learnt a lot and I’ve grown a lot. When I think back to my opinions on certain things 24 years ago compared to my opinions now, they’re so different. I look back sometimes and think, ‘Why would I have ever thought that?’ But I was in my early thirties when I started, and now I’m nearly 60. I’ve had kids who’ve taught me so much, life has changed and the world has changed. I’m so much more confident now in who I am.”

Coleen with her daughter, Clara, at home ( 
Image:
OK! Magazine / David Cummings)
While she wouldn’t change anything about her time on the panel, the only thing Coleen doesn’t enjoy so much now is how “restricted” the panellists are. “Back then, you could say what you wanted, and while people might not have agreed with you, it didn’t mean you were ‘cancelled’ or never going to work again. Now we have to be really careful, and edit ourselves. That’s the only slightly negative change. I’ve still loved every minute of it.”

Supporting her Loose Women pal Ruth Langsford after her split from husband Eamonn Holmes, Coleen says she’s in “awe” of how she’s handled the situation. “She’s such a dignified lady and she looks the best she’s ever looked, in my opinion. She’s a trooper, and I’ll always be there for her.”

Ruling out following friend Jane Moore into the I’m A Celebrity jungle, Coleen does have a new TV project in mind. “I’m in awe of them all, I’d have made Dean [McCullough] look good. You think he can scream? You should hear me. No, I’d much rather do a reality show about life on the farm. That’s the next big dream.” Read Coleen’s full interview in OK! magazine, out Tuesday.

GK Barry and Richard Coles formed an unlikely bond on this year’s series of I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! but it looks like viewers could see more of them in the future.

TV star Richard Coles has teased a new career venture alongside GK Barry following their stint on I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!

 

The 62-year-old formed a sweet bond with GK, whose real name is Grace Keeling, in the Australian jungle as they participated in this year’s gruesome show. But while appearing on Tuesday’s Loose Women, Richard seemed to suggest he wouldn’t mind getting involved in another tough reality series with Grace.

Reuniting with Loose Women star Grace on the panel, Richard was asked by presenter Charlene White if they plan to work together again. Richard said: “Yeah, I think so; I mean the SAS thing, you and me probably.”

Surprised, Grace replied: “Wow! Can you imagine?”

Richard Coles teased future work with GK Barry ( 
Image:
ITV)

Richard replied: “Yes, I can imagine. What I would love to do is take some trips to some interesting places,” he added: “Well, someone said I can take her to the opera, and she can take me for a vajazzle.”

After seeing the pair together, fans couldn’t get enough of the duo and headed to social media site X to share their thoughts. One viewer said: “Can’t wait for Keeling’s own show with Richard Coles as her sidekick. This is what ITV loves to see.”

Another chimed in and wrote, “GK Barry is so funny.” Another penned, “Reverend Richard Coles, Saluted. Beautiful man.”

Since their jungle adventure ended, fans have been longing to see more of Grace and Richard on their TV sets, with some suggesting that they should appear in the next series of Celebrity Gogglebox on Channel 4.

Richard is happy to work with GK Barry again
While updating her fans on TikTok that she had returned to the UK after filming I’m A Celeb, fans quickly flooded the comment section with suggestions for the new role. One fan wrote, “Your friendship with Richard was so sweet. You two definitely need to be on Celebrity Gogglebox. Please put him on your podcast.”

More comments came in, with one person writing: “You and the Rev need to go on Gogglebox”. Another social media user said: “Rev Richard for the podcast!”

While a third claimed: “You and Rev NEED a show together,” alongside the clapping emoji. With fans agreeing as one wrote: “Need a show with Rev called ‘By The Grace of God.’”

Loose Women airs Mondays-Fridays at 12:30pm on ITV1.